2023 Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame - Round 1

Bruce Pearson

TV Show/Movie Appeared: Bang the Drum Slowly (1973)
Actor/Actress: Robert DeNiro
Position Portrayed: Catcher
Played For:: New York Mammoths
Why you should vote:: DeNiro was great, and it launched his career.
Why you should not vote:: Isn’t the Catcher usually the smartest player on the team? Seriously, something is off here.
The role that launched Robert DeNiro’s career was as a slow witted Catcher who has terminal Hodgkin’s Disease. As Bruce Pearson, he showed limited intellect, and was not a star on his team, the New York Mammoths, though his closest friend was. DeNiro was often the butt of the jokes on the team, and was the focus of our sympathies. However, when the nature of his illness is unveiled, the team rallies around their comrade, and learn to win and become better people in the process. That sounds like a simple equation, but often those are the best stories told. As it stands, any film that launched the career of one of the greatest actors ever, deserves a look for our little Hall of Fame.